Universal filler with hopper and counter mechanism controlled auger feeder therein



D. MATEER June 9, 1953 2,641,384 UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER ANDCOUNTER MECHANISM CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 5, 1949 INVENTOR June 9, 1953 G. D. MATEER 2,641,384

UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER AND COUNTER MECHANISM CONTROLLED AUGERFEEDER THERELIN Filed Jan. 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. INVENTOR G. D. MATEER 2,641,384 UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER ANDCOUNTER MECHANISM June 9, 1953 CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN FiledJan. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m M m 5 Z w 4 m L 1 y 3 w m WW 0 7 H 7 Z 4a a m w w7\, m m\ m m a a l 5 MWAfik w 6 7 T134, o x w. a M 6 Z mmPatented June 9, 1953 UNIT E D. 'E N T 01? F UNIV EILIQER WITH; HQBPER.AN D;

COUNTER: MECHANISM CGNTROLLED AUGERE' FEEDER THE-REIN George. Di'ehlMateemArdmone, Ba.

Application January 5, 1949; Serial No. 69.345

3.Claims-. (01.222-70).

The present invention relates-to feeders particularly of the characteremployed in dispensing drya-nd viscous materials.

A purpose" of the invention is to obtain more accurate metering ofdryandviscous' materials by a feeder, avoiding or minimizing theeiiectsof lost motion in'the driving parts andovertravel when the feedis stopped.

A further purpose is to interpose a clutch between a driving and drivenshaft, to'dri've a feeder from the driven shaft; toprecisely control theduration of engagement of the clutch; and to effectuate the control bycounting revolutions of the driven shaft, thus avoiding error due toslippage in the clutch and'l'ost motion in the connections.

A further purpose is to pick up the clutch under the action of asolenoid, preferably acting on a clutch lever.

A further purposeis to apply spring loading to the clutch whichdetermines the amount of load applied when the solenoid" is energized.

A- further purpose is to mount a driven shaft and a driving shaft inprolongation of one another on the same axis, tointerpose a disc clutchbetween the driving; shaft and the driven shaft and to exert axialpressure on the clutch pref"- erably through a clutch operator and abearing when the clutch is to pick up;

A further purpose is toprovide a drag; brake on the driven shaft toaidinstopping the driven shaft.

A further purpose is to permit adjustment of the exact vertical positionof an auger feeder by adjusting the length of'its driving shaft.

A further purpose is' to make the hopper and feeder directly andreadily' detachable-from the drive and control unit, in ordertofacilitate cleaning and to make possible sterilization an feedingunder sterile-conditions;

A further purpose is to simplify and cheapen the mounting of the feederhopper, suitably by suspending it through quick attachment screws from abracket above the hopper.

A further purpose is tovary the speed of the auger or other feederwithout changing on the one hand the filling cycle or on the other handthe transfer cycle.

A further purpose is to provide completely electric drive and control ofthe-feeding mechanism so as to facilitatesynchronization with conveyingor other equipment.

A further purpose is tomake the control head self-contained and topermit replacement of other hoppers'or feeding units on the samecontrolhead.

2 A- further purpose is tomount an adjustable impeller onthe auger shaftabove the auger.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims;

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only'of thenumerousembodiments in which: my

inventiorr may-appear, choosing the form shown fromthe standpoints ofconvenience in illustration; satisfactory operation andcleard'emonst'nae tion of the principles involved.

Figure- 1 is a sideelevation ot a feeder: constructed in accordance withthe present invert- 'bi'On:

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in central verticalsection, of the hopper, augeir, feeder and related parts; breaking awaythe control head; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged central-'- vertical': section through thecontrol head.

Figure 4a is a half section Figure 3 on the line l -4- and a halfsection: of Figure 3 cm the line 4-4".

Figure 5 is a fragmentary. encl elevation of the contacts in thecounter.

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram.

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged transverse sec;-

tions sliglitly above the line bekthroughi the disc clutch at positionsone disc apart; showing: the differences in the discs:

Describing illustration but not in limita tion and referring: to thedrawings:

The dispensing of solid materials: such: as powders and ofviscous-material's such as. pastes, including food's, medicineschemicals, insectilcides and the like; incident to packaging of suchmaterials; chemical treatment of fluids, chemical reactions andnumerousother purposes; requires in some cases accurate meteringv oil thequantity of material being supplied. Weighing devices are inmanyinstancesunduiy,complicated andexpensive, whereas auger feeders; have;often been too inaccurate t'o be suitable. In accord:- ance with thepresent invention the: accuracy (if an auger" feeder is greatlyincreased; the. device being rendered suitablefor packaging even: ofcomparatively expensive materials, and for metering of additives inconnection. with chem;- cal treatment and chemical; reactions, as; wellas the compounding and. blending of. mixtures;

Many of the prior art auger feeding devices have been inefficientandinaocurate: because. of lost motion: in the operating: parts and;overtravei at the time motion should cease. v The device of the presentinvention is designed to avoid all such inaccuracy. I

In accordance withthe invention the counting auger or other feeder toaccord with the character of the material being fed, without in any wayinfluencing the feeding cycle or influencing the transfer cycle betweenone feeding cycle and the next. For example, in the case of highlyviscous materials it may be desirable to rotate the auger more slowlyand in the case of very.

powdery materials or free flowing materials it may be desirable torotate the auger more rapidly.

The hopper and auger construction is much improved. The shaft extensionwhich carries the auger clutch is adjustable in length to obtain precisefeeding at the mouth of the hopper. The hopper itself is readilyremovable by thumb screws from an overhead bracket. An impeller in thehopper adjustable for angle prevents arching of the contents which wouldinterfere with uniformity of feed.

The feeder is desirably supported on a stand having a column 2| which isengaged at the top by adjustable clamps 22 which support on the front acontrol head 23 having at its bottom a downwardly directed hopperbracket 24 which provides a number of openings 25 for receiving screws26 projecting upwardly through the openings in the cover 21 of a conehopper 28. The screws carry quick removable wing nuts 30 and the screwsare suitably fastened to the hopper as by rivets 3|. The lower end ofthe hopper has a mouth 32 surrounded by a retaining collar, 33 having anannular external slot which is engaged by radial thumb screws 34extending inwardly from a dispensing nozzle 35 which is of suitable sizeto direct the flow of the material being dispensed to the package,receptacle or other point of feeding.

At the opposite side of the column 2I fro the control head is a motorbracket 36 adjustable at 3! with respect to the column and carrying anelectric motor 38 driving a variable speed pulley 40 which drives apulley M on a main driving shaft 42 by means of a V-belt 43. The'pulley4| is partially surrounded by a guard 44.

The main driving shaft 42 is supported in the housing 45 of the controlhead 23. A bearing sleeve 46 having an upper flange 41 extends into anopening 48 in the top of the housing and which engage interiorly with akey 6| in a driven shaft 62 which is in prolongation with and coaxialwith the driving shaft. The driving shaft is hollow at 63 and the end isclosed by plugs 64 and by a closure sleeve 65, against which the end ofthe driven shaft rests.

, When the discs are free from axial compression the clutch slips, butwhen pressure is applied upwardly on an annular clutch element 66 whichengages the lowermost clutch disc and is capable of compressing thediscs, the clutch picks up. Pick-up is accomplished by an annular cup-"shaped clutch operator 6'I surrounding the driven shaft 62 butrotationally stationary, which holds a ball thrust bearing 68 betweenthe clutch element 66 and the clutch operator 61, thus permitting theclutch element to turn with the clutch supports upper and lower ballbearings 50 and 5I, the inner races of which are. suitably pressed onthe shaft 42. The bearings are separated by a spacer sleeve 52surrounding the shaft. The shaft and associated mechanism are readilyremovable by simply taking out the bolts (not shown) which secure theflange 41 of the shaft to the housing. I

The pulley 4| is spaced from the upper bearg ing by a washer 53 and islocked on the threaded end of the shaft by a nut 54.

On the lower end of the driving shaft and suitably integral-therewith isthe collar 55 of a disc clutch 56 having discs 51 (see Figures '7 and 8)which are secured against rotation with respect to the collar byextensions 51' into' an external slot 58 and having interspersed discs60 while the clutch operator does not rotate. The clutch operator inretracted position engages a washer I0 surrounding the driven shaft. Atdiametrically opposite points the clutch operator has pins 'II makingpivotal engagement in levers 72 having fixed pivots 13 on the housingand suitably at the ends of the levers. The levers may desirablyconverge as shown in Figure 4, and at their opposite ends havepreferably vertical openings I4 which pass bolts I5, which also extendthrough openings in a magnetically susceptible solenoid armature I6which is of T shape and. suitably bridges across above the ends of thelevers. are surrounded by compression springs 11, washers "16 andadjustment-nuts which regulate the compression of the springs. Asolenoid coil 8| suitably mounted on the housing surrounds the armature.I

The driven shaft 62 below the washer I0 carries a brake drum'82 keyed tothe shaft and suitably integral with a bevel gear 83. The brake drum issurrounded by a brake band 84 which is split at 85 and urged toward itstightening position by a spring 86 surrounding an adjustment bolt 8'!across the split at 85. To prevent the brake from rotating, an anchor88, preferably of spring material, extends into the slot at 85 and issecured at 90 on the housing.

At the bottom of the housing, the driven shaft has thrust washers 9| anda journal bearing 92. The lower end of the driven shaft is threaded at93 and as best seen in Figure 2 threads into a coaxial shaft extension94, the threaded adjustment between the driven shaft and the shaft extension being locked by a lock nut 95. The shaft extension passesthrough an opening 96 in the cover of the hopper. The shaft extension atits lower end carries a bayonet slot chuck 91 which receives and holds adepending feeding auger 98. Mounted transversely of the shaft extensionin an opening therein and held in place by a set screw I00 is animpeller IOI having a straight rod portion I02 at one side and asuitably oval blade I03 at the opposite side. The angle of inclinationof the blade as well as the relative extension of the impeller on eitherside can be adjusted by loosening the set screw I00. The impellerprevents arching of the contents in the hopper. a

In the control head the bevel gear 83 makes connection with a transversebevel gear I04 secured on a shaft I05 journalled at I06 in a mountingplate I01 secured to the housing. 'At the opposite end the shaft I05carries a pinion I08 which. connects with a main counter gear I I0,having a hub I I I which surrounds and journals on but is free from ashaft II2 journalllng Abovev the solenoid armature the bolts shapes atthe rear in a bearing I13 on the plate I63 and journalling at the fronton a plate =I I'4.

Secured on the shaft H2 is a cone clutch H5 which engages in a conesocket, on the gear I ID, the gear normally being urged away from theposition of engagement by a spring II 6. A-clutch solenoid II'I having amagnetically susceptible armature H8 acts on a clutch lever I26 having afixed pivot at -I2I and surrounding and acting against the hub III ofthe gear II'll to urge the gear against the clutch when the solenoid IIIpicks up. The armature H8 is also pivotally connected by a link I22 to aset of upper electrical contacts I23 and I24 havingriixed pivot at I25.On the same fixed pivot are cooperating lower contacts I26 and I21insulated from the upper contacts and urged away from the respectiveupper contacts by springs I28.

The shaft II2 carries on it a counter arm I30 which on return to initialposition for zeroing engages a stop MI. The shaft is constantly urgedtoward the zero position by a torsion spring I32. Pivotally mounted at133 on the outer end of the counter arm I3!) is a tripping bellcrank I34which rides a counter cam I35 having a cam projection I36 whichindicates the position of counting out. The cam is adjusted to anydesired angle by a knob I3'I carrying a suitable adjustment dial andpointer forming no part of the present invention. The tripping bellcrankI34 has an opposite end I40 which rides against the flange of a collarI4I loose on the shaft and engaging the fork of a release lever I42having a fixed pivot at I43 and engaging the lower portion of the lowercontacts I26 and I21 at a suitably insulated position. A leaf spring I44acting against the side of th cam I35 tends to hold the releasing leverin its non-release position. When the bottom of the releasing leverswings to the right in Figure 3 the top swings to the left allowing theupper end of the releasing lever -to enter a releasing slot I45 in thelower contacts, thus causing contacts I 26 and I21 to drop, breaking thecircuits at I23, I26 and I24, I21.

The counter here employed is a very convenient form, but it will beevident that any other suitable counter may be used.

The electric circuit may suitably be of the character shown in Figure'6. A main dispensing switch I46 closes, either manually or automatical-1y as desired, closing the circuit from electrical leads I47, I48 of asuitable electric current source through the counter clutch solenoid In.This closes contacts I23, I26 and I24, I21 of the counter. The switchI46 which initiated the operation closes only instantaneously and it nowbreaks its parallel branch circuit, but the clutch solenoid I I1 remainsenergized through the clutch contacts I23, I26. The closing of theswitch I24, I21 energizes the main drive clutch solenoid 8I, causing themain drive clutch to pick up and begin the driving of the driven shaftand the auger feeder. At the same time the bevel gears begin to rotateand the counter counts the rotations until the predetermined positionfor counting out is reached, at which the switches I23, I26 and I24, I21are opened by the action of the tripping lever I34 on the releasinglever I42 against spring I44, causing the lower switch contacts I26 andI2! to drop and break the circuits.

In operation the device is set up at a desired point of dispensing,either for manual or automatic use. The hopper and control head areadjusted to the correct height by releasing and tightening the clamps22. The belt is properly '6 adjusted 'byreleasing and tightening themotor mounting clamp at .31. The auger extension'i's then adjusted as tolength by loosening and tightening the look not 95. The proper auger isinserted into the auger chuck at the end of the driven shaft extension,an the impeller is 'adjusted as to position and angle of the blade 'byloosening and tightening the set screw I00. The

hopper is tightened in position by taking up the wing nuts 30. 1

The main driving shaft 42 is continuously driven by the motor duringoperation, "but the driven shaft, auger and counter are held instationary position except when the main drivling clutch picks up. Toassure that the position is stationary, the brake band :84 continuouslyengages the brake drum '82, applying this drag at all times.

When it is desired to operate the feeder, the main switch I 46 ismomentarily closed, energizing the counter clutch solenoid II'i', whichpulls its armature to the right in Figure 3, pulling the counter clutchlever to the right and forcing hub III and gear III] to the right sothat the gear engages the counter clutch cone H5. The drivin-gconnection is now established between the driven shaft 62 through thebevel gears 83 and I04, the pinion I08 and the gear I I6 to drive theshaft I I2 continuously as the driven shaft may be turned, thus movingtripping bellcrank I34 over the circumferential path on cam I35. At thesame time the energizing-of the counter clutch solenoid .I I! pulls linkI22 and closes switch contacts I23 and I24 against their cooperatingswitch contacts I26 and I2! respectively. The closing of these switchescauses the clutch solenoid to rc main energized notwithstanding thatswitch 14}; opens, and energizes the main drive clutch solenoid BI,whose armature moves up in Figure 3 (since the bulk of the armature isnormally helow the center of the coil) tending to pull/the lefthand endof clutch lever 12 up, and moving the clutch operator 67, thrust bearing66 and clutch element 66 up to apply pressure between the clutch discs,and cause the clutch to pick up, thus starting rotation of the drivenshaft.

The springs TI limit the amount of force transmitted by the solenoidarmature 76 to the clutch, thus permitting the solenoid to overtravelwithout applying too much pressure to the clutch, and assuring that theimpact of the solenoid action is not transmitted to the clutch the formof a damaging blow but rather is cushioned by the springs.

When the counter counts out, the switch elements I26 and I 21 open, andthis disconnects both the counter clutch solenoid and the main driveclutch solenoid, at which point the torsional spring I32 returns thecounter and tripping bellcrank or lever to zero against the stop I 3|,while the driven shaft and auger stop instantly due to the drag of thebrake. The main solenoid, being de-energized, permits the clutch discsto separate under the resilience in the clutch itself, under gravity andunder the action of the springs 11.

In accordance with the invention, the feeder is very adaptable to a widevariety of dry and viscous materials. Great accuracy in feeding isachieved, since the count is accomplished directly on the impeller shaftand the brake assures instantaneous stopping. The main driving clutchsolenoid picks up and releases instantaneously, while the springs avoidany damage from this effect.

The hopper impeller and auger construction is very readily taken apartfor cleaning and very quickly reassembled for further use.

It will be understood that where reference is made to an auger feeder,it is contemplated that a rotor or any other similar type of feeder maybe employed.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope ofmy claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a feeder, a hopper, an auger feeder in the hopper controlling thefeed therefrom, a driven shaft on the auger feeder, a driving shaft, adisc clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and thedriven shaft, a lever pivotally mounted for applying pressure to andreleasing pressure from the disc clutch, an electric solenoidoperatively connected to the lever and when energized causing the leverto apply pressure to the disc clutch, and an electric counteroperatively connected to the driven shaft to respond to the revolutionsof the driven shaft, operatively connected to the solenoid and includinga switch in the solenoid circuit by which the solenoid is disconnectedwhen the counter counts out.

2. In a feeder, a hopper, an auger feeder controlling discharge from thehopper, a driven shaft mounting the auger feeder, a driving shaftcoaxial with the driven shaft, a disc clutch operatively interposedbetween the driving shaft and the driven shaft and having a pressureelement to which pressure can be applied axially to make the disc clutchpick up, a bearing interposed on the opposite side of the pressureelement of the disc clutch from the clutch, a rotatably stationaryclutch operator engaging the opposite side of the bearing, lever meanspivoted at one end and engaging the clutch operator intermediate betweenthe ends, a solenoid operatively connected to the end of the lever meansopposite from the pivot and adapted when energized to bring pressure onthe clutch element through the bearing and the operator, and an electriccounter operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the drivenshaft and having a pressure element to which pressure can be appliedaxially to make the disc clutch pick up, a bearing interposed on theopposite side of the pressure element of the disc clutchfrom the clutch,a rotatably stationary clutch operator engaging the opposite side of thebearing, lever means pivoted at one end and engaging the clutch operatorintermediate between the ends, a solenoid operatively connected to theend of the lever means opposite from the pivot and adapted whenenergized to bring pressure on the clutch element through the bearingand the operator, an electric counter operatively connected to thedriven shaft and to the solenoid and including a switch in the solenoidcircuit by which the solenoid is disconnected when the counter countsout, and a drag brake operatively connected with the driven shaft.

GEORGE DIEI-IL MATEER.

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